Chernobyl Hopper

Much like the slightly smaller Chernobyl Ant, the Chernobyl Hopper is now a staple in most fall season boxes. The hopper nymphs are starting to disappear and we’re seeing lots of larger hoppers while walking out to the creeks. I like this pattern, simple and quick to tie. I like to use a bit of Zap-A-Gap on the contact points with the foam to get it really stuck in place. Also, a bit of bright dubbing underneath doesn’t hurt. If you have some nice green olive and tan foam at hand, you can make a nice number of variations. Take note of the hoppers you see on and off the streams and copy that color scheme.